Hotel spa industry on the rise, more jobs expected

Erika Prafder

Feb 22, 2017

In-house luxuriating is on the rise for hotel and resort spas.

This market is the fastest growing category of spas, according to the “Global Wellness Economy Monitor" report recently released by the Global Wellness Institute, a non-profit organization that seeks to educate the public and private sectors on issues of preventative health and wellness.

There are currently 121,595 different types of spas worldwide, and between 2013-15, the hotel/resort spa category added the largest number of spas and greatest amount of revenue, according to the report. During that time-period, the number of spas increased from 22,076 to 30,180, and revenues jumped from $22.2 billion to $25.6 billion. Hotel and resort spas lead such growth over other types of facilities including day/club salon spas, destination spas and health resorts, medical spas, and thermal/mineral Spring Spas.

As of 2015, in North America, the United States spa market had over 24,000 spas pulling in revenues of over $18.6 million dollars, while in Canada, there were over 3,800 spas generating over $1.9 million dollars.

With demand for spa services climbing, hiring demands are also escalating. In North America alone, there has been a 7% rate of annual growth since 2013. As of year-end 2015, 424,174 people were directly employed by the spa industry. Furthermore, the projected spa facility employment needs will rise to 541,059 by 2020. By comparison, Europe is projected to see employee hiring needs reach 940,000; the Asia-Pacific region will likely have just over 1 million jobs to fill; the Latin American-Caribbean market will seek out over 200,000 spa jobs; and the Middle East/North African locale projects over 88,000 employees will be in demand.

If you’re considering a career in this field, or are eager to rise within it, one industry veteran can shed light on how to meet such goals.

Javana Phillips-Broad is Spa Director of Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa in Grand Cayman. As a registered nurse, massage therapist and esthetician, she has been in the industry for over twenty-five years. Due to the rise of social media, Broad says the demand for hotel spa employees is surging.

“With social media at one’s finger tips, guests are determining which hotel they would like to visit depending upon the reviews. Many vacationers will not stay at certain hotels, if it does not have spa facilities. Business travelers are also demanding access to a spa, after a long day of meetings. Spas are a welcome escape to relax and unwind,” says Broad.

To meet the increasing needs of guest travelers, she says, “There is certainly a rise of employees attracted to working at hotel spa, too, as it’s a great career and an opportunity to work with various staff members and cultures from around the world, hence an ability to learn and grow.”

Broad says certain hotel or reort spa positions seem to be in most demand within the field.

“Spa Receptionists are always in huge demand. It helps to have spa background, as they are generally the first point of call with guests, therefore, they need to have good listening ears, patience, and friendly demeanor. Thorough knowledge of the spa and retail menu are key and an ability to multitask,” says Broad.

Since massage and body treatments are always the most popular, according to Broad, “The hiring of a good therapists is crucial, working within a hotel. It’s not just about skill set, personality is equally important, especially for hotels that attract international guests,” she says.

Spa Directors are also sought after, says Broad. “It certainly helps to have a spa background and knowledge of retail and marketing,” she says.

Day-to-day duties as a spa director also cover a lot of ground, she says.

“You play an essential role in developing a positive culture amongst other staff,” says Broad. “You have to be a resource for all staff, demonstrate a positive attitude and be professional at all times. … Responsibilities include inventory control, and being able to resolve guest complaints in a sensitive manner. Responsibility for payroll or having knowledge of it and management experience are also advantageous. … No two days are the same, so it’s essential to be flexible.”

A love of travel, learning about new cultures and meeting people drew Broad in to the spa world – that’s “the beauty of this industry,” she says. Additional perks include having access to and working with good products, she says.

Most of all, Broad loves her job because “the spa is a very healing environment. I like helping people to de-stress and remember to breathe.The power of touch is usually taken for granted. I’m always moved by the appreciation of guests when they’ve truly enjoyed their service. It also gives me great pride to watch my staff blossom and grow.”